Bill of Rights

These pages may change often. This is a work in progress. I appreciate your input regarding the wording used. After all, this is YOUR constitution too.

Bill of Rights

All People are by nature, born free and independent, and possess certain inherent, unalienable, and inviolable rights, among which are, but not limited to, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. To secure these, and all rights, governments are instituted among consenting people acting individually or collectively, deriving its just and enumerated powers from the consent of the People.

Due Process and Equal Protection

Government shall not diminish or deprive any natural-born free-man or free-woman of life, liberty, or property; nor to any of the People the equal protection of the law, unless it be in accordance with due process.

(Alternate)

Bill of Rights, Liberties, and Freedoms

All People are, by nature, born free and independent; possessing certain inherent, unalienable, and inviolable rights, among which, but not limited to, life, liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness. To secure these, and all rights, governments are instituted among consenting People acting collectively, deriving its just and enumerated powers from the consent of the People.

Organic Law and Rights of Mankind

All government exists solely upon the reserved and limited powers, which originate in the absolute and popular sovereignty of the People, collectively and severally, that not now or ever may any government exist, which denies to Free-People, redress or protection through all the laws, charters, proclamations, declarations, doctrines, and statements created throughout all history of Mankind's struggle to be free, from the Magna Carta through and beyond the Declaration of Independence; and such history shall be as much a part of this Constitution as the words of the People today, and shall forever remain inviolable, absolute, and beyond the realm of any government. No law founded by the People to be contrary to the historical organic law of Mankind shall be permitted to exist and shall be subject to whatever is deemed necessary by the People, whether collectively or individually, in objection to or refusal to obey.

Religious Freedom and Freedom of Conscience

The free exercise and enjoyment of religious or spiritual beliefs and worship, without discrimination, shall forever be guaranteed, and no natural-born Free-man or Free-woman shall be denied any civil or political right, privilege or capacity, on account of their beliefs, but the liberty of conscience hereby secured shall not be construed to dispense with oaths or affirmations freely given or excuse acts of licentiousness. No natural-born Free-man or Free-woman shall be required to attend or support any ministry or place of worship against their consent, nor shall any preference be given by law to any religious denomination or mode of worship.

(Alternate)

All People possess, by virtue of their Creator, reason, conscience, and self-determination; the thoughts, words, or deeds arising from living in accordance with the dictates of their Creator shall forever be guaranteed to be from any interference, prohibition, regulation, licensure, or preference by the state of, Illinois; and no civil or political right or privilege shall ever be denied on account of any thoughts, words, or deeds arising from the exercise of conscience, reason, or self-determination; and no law shall exist where punishment for such thoughts, words, or deeds does not pertain solely to the harm or loss of life, liberty, or property of another without their consent.

Right to Civil Disobedience

Recognizing and averring to the absolute sovereignty of the People, it shall be unlawful to compel anyone to act in a manner prescribed by government by way of fine, confinement, imprisonment, or any other possible punishment, if such compulsion is inconsistent with the morals, conscience, or beliefs of the People both individually or collectively. The People retain the absolute right to peaceably disobey, ignore, or otherwise not comply with any form of governmental demand unless they choose to do so voluntarily. No law shall exist which provides for any punishment, retaliation, or coercion, of anyone who peaceably exercises their conscience and morals in opposition to a the will of government. Should government pursue unlawful compliance after being made aware of the People's exercise of conscience or morals, the People may provide for their liberty by resorting to any means whatsoever, and may summon the assistance of others who may find favor with their plight.

Right to Arms

*The right to arms appeared in the 1970 Constitution. Before recommending an amendment to that Article, I've provided an Analysis of the Right to Arms Amendment from the 1970 Illinois Constitutional Convention. It is important to understand why, after over 100 years of history, the convention of 1970 felt it necessary to create a "constitutional right" to arms.